CCHP Speech & Language Therapy Referral

The Children’s Speech and Language and Therapy Service provides an assessment, diagnosis and intervention service to children and young people with speech, language and communication needs and/or with eating drinking and swallowing difficulties.

From 1 April 2017, Children's Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) in Bristol and South Gloucestershire will be providing a new 'core service offer,' as agreed with Bristol and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group and as set out in the Community Children's Health Partnership (CCHP) service specification.

What is the new core service offer and how is it different to the old one?

The new core service offer means that families will be able to access SLT advice and support more quickly. Previously, children and young people were referred to the SLT team by health or education professionals for an assessment before receiving any further support, and they typically had to wait many weeks before receiving advice or therapy.

In the future, families will be able to access telephone advice, school and nursery drop-in clinics, parent information sessions and online support in advance of an SLT assessment. If a full assessment is also required, the child or young person will then be referred to the SLT team after receiving this initial support. This means that families won't have to wait so long before receiving the support they need.

The changes will deliver:

• Easier and quicker initial access to SLT advice and support for all families.
• Provision of resources, information and sign posting to other services.
• Practical training and demonstration for parents.
• Practical training and advice for education and early years professionals who work with children and young people.
• Direct SLT input for those with communication and/or eating and drinking difficulties which require specialist SLT support.
• A Link SLT for every school.

The new additions to our service include:

• Regular drop-in clinics at schools, children's centres and clinics.
• A weekly phone advice line.
• Rolling programmes of therapy groups for pre-school children.
• Workshops and training for professionals in Bristol.
• Information sessions for parents.

Specialist Speech and Language Therapy input is available for children who have:-

• Severe developmental speech and language disorders (up to the end of Key Stage 1 in South Gloucestershire)
• Eating and drinking difficulties
• The need for Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC)
• A stammer.

All children referred for an assessment will receive a written report with recommendations and sign posting to appropriate resources.

If a child or young person has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or a Statement of Special Educational Needs, they will receive our new service offer. Any communication needs not met within the core service offer will be the responsibility of the school and the Local Authority. A key part of our new service is to provide training for education staff so they are able to meet the speech, language and communication needs of children and young people.

From May 1, the new phone advice line number, schools and early years drop in clinics and other parent information will start to be available on the main SLT page on this website. If you have any questions in the meantime, please contact our service via SLT@CCHP.nhs.uk